Lighting fixture



Jan. 3, 1939. J jg, o 2,142,395

' LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 25; 1937 '2 Sheets-Sheet v1 Jan. 3, 1939.

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 25, 19s7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. c. HERRON I 2,142,395

Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES 7 2,142,395 LIGHTING FIXTURE James C. Herron, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Sterling Reflector Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 23, 1937, Serial No. 138,515

10 Claims.

My invention relates to lighting devices of the type employing reflectors and light diffusing means and adapted particularly for use on ceilings, and it has for its object the provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts by reason of which there shall be intense direct lighting downwardly from the device and a very effective indirect distribution of light laterally in every direction by diffusion and. reflection. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a novel arrangement of parts in a device of this type by reason of which a light bulb or other source of light has improved cooperation with light diffusing means located directly below it, 1 with the light difiusing means preferably in the form of a plurality of concentric cylindrical louvers of translucent material arranged in improved relative position with respect to each other, with each louver extending downwardly a substantial distance lower than the next larger louver whereby all of the louvers are subjected to direct lighting from the bulb so as to have a highly effective light diffusion downwardly and toward the sides of the room.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement of this type in which a reflector is employed above the bulb, with the bulb and reflector positioned directly above the concentrically arranged louvers and all proportioned and arranged so that the pattern of direct light projected downwardly from the bulb and the reflector shall be of considerably increased size as compared with the horizontal spread of the bulb. It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement of this type in which the reflector is in dished form and is located in recessed relation to a ceiling, with the bulb located within the reflector so as to reduce to a minimum the over-all vertical dimension of the device so far as is consistent with effective results, the arrangement preferably being such that the bulb is positioned horizontally rather than vertically so as to be inserted into its socket from the side instead of from below.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved form and arrangement of supporting means for the cylindrical louvers of glass or other translucent material so as to provide for workable tolerances in the size and shape of the parts, and so as to provide for keeping the parts always under slight tension without danger of breakage by expansion or contraction of the parts.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement whereby the several parts making up the complete device may be added successively as the building operations proceed so as to keep the installation of the device in step with the progress made in the construction of the room interior. It is another object to provide improved supporting means for the lower portion of the fixture when it is removed from operative position for providing access to the reflector and bulb. It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the preferred form of my improved device mounted in position in a ceiling;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the fixture as seen from a position below and at one side of the device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail View showing the inner end portion of one of the supporting arms of the fixture;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom-member of the fixture supported in elevated position when dropped from its operative relation for providing access tothe reflector and bulb;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of three superposed rings by which the bottom member of the fixture is supported in position;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are vertical cross sectional views taken at the line 6-6, the line l-l, and the line 88 respectively of Fig. 5; and

9 is a vertical sectional view taken at the line 99 of Fig. 5 but with the device in position in a ceiling and with the bottom ring as shown in Fig. 5 removed.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, [5 indicates a metal ring in the' form of a casting, being in the form of an angle throughout the greater portion of the ring (see Fig. 6) but having its vertical flange offset transversely as at 16 at a plurality of points about the ring, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 8. The ring also has its horizontal flange offset upwardly as at l! at a plurality of points, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and '7. At the points H, the upwardly offset portions of the horizontal flange are provided with openings I8 therethrough through which wire tie members l9 are passed for securing the ring rigidly in position center upon the plate 39.

about an opening in the metal lath 20 upon which the plaster ceiling 2| of a room is located. The arrangement is such that the tie members 13 and the plaster serve to support the ring l5 very strongly in position. It will be understoodthat the heavy ring frame member I5 is secured in position before the plastering operation is carried out.

After the plastering operation, a retainer ring 22 is placed in position, such ring 22 being provided with a rib 23 on its upper face adapted to fit easily within the ring l5, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the ring 22 being secured to the ring l5 by means of machine screws 24, as is best shown in Figs. 5 and 8, such screws 24 being located within the offset portions I6 of the ring l5. The

ring 22 in turn supports a third ring 25 which is of a size to enable it to pass upwardly through the ring IS with a reflector 26 in position thereon, the ring 25 and reflector being thus capable of installation after the ring I5 is secured firmly in position. At one side portion, the ring 25 is provided with a circular plate 21 on its inner face from which rises a bracket 28 for supporting a socket 2 9 at one side of the reflector 26. The arrangement is such that an electric light globe 30 of comparatively large size can be inserted in position within the reflector 26, with the shank of the bulb extending through an opening 3| in the reflector opposite the socket 29, all as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. The ring 22 has its outer face flush with the face of the plaster ceiling 2|, throughout the greater distance about the ring, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. V

As is best shown in Figs. 4 and '7, the ring 22 is provided at intervals thereabout with downwardly offset portions 32 upon the bottom faces of which the frame ring 33 of the bottom portion of my improved fixture is adapted to be secured. The ring 33 is preferably pressed out of sheet metal,

being pressed into stepped form on its bottom face and being provided with flange-portions at its edges for the double purpose of providing ornamentation and of strengthening the structure. The ring 33 is secured in position by means of machine screws 34 passing through the ring 33 into the offset portions 32 of the ring 22, as is best shown in Fig. 7.

Below the ring 33, I have provided four radially disposed arms 35 which are preferably in-the form of metal castings, being secured at their outer ends to the ring 33 by means of bolts 36, as is'best shown in Fig. 1. At their inner ends, each of the arms 35 is provided with an arc-shaped head portion 31 provided at its inner face with a horizontally disposed plate 38, the inner ends of the four arms 35 being connected together by means of a plate 39 secured by means of screws 40 to the several plate portions 38 of the arms. A cap 4| of sheet metal is fitted about the portions 3'! and 38 to provide an ornamental dressing, such cap being held in position by means of a bolt 42. By my arrangement as described, the arms 35 are held very firmly in position, with their inner ends extending downwardly and inwardly as is best shown in Fig. 1.

Upon the upper faces of the arms 35, I have provided a plurality of cylindrical louvers 43 which in the arrangement shown are formed of translucent glass. These louvers are arranged concentrically with each louver extending downwardly some little distance below the lower end of the next larger louver, an additional cylindrical louver 44 of the same type being mounted at the The louvers 43 and 44 are held from sidewise slipping by means of lugs 45 carried by the frame parts, each of the lugs having a resilient link 46 connected thereto at one end. The opposite ends of the links 46 are hooked over the upper edges of the louvers for holding the louvers lightly in position. The arrangement is such that a limited amount of play is provided between the louvers and the adjacent parts so as to provideopportunity for expansion and contraction of the parts relative to each other without danger of breakage.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, the plate 33 of the lower portion of the fixture is connected by means of a chain 41 with the frame plate 22 so that when the screws 34 are removed the bottom portion of the fixture may be permitted to hang by the chain as is shown in Fig. 4 for providing access to the reflector 26 and the light bulb 30.

By the use of my improved arrangement by which light rays are 'adapted to pass straight downwardly between the louvers from the globe 30 and the reflector 26, I am enabled to provide for intense direct lighting downwardly. By reason of the successively lowered arrangement of the louvers from the outside louver to the inside louver, the direct light from the globe is adapted to pass to each of the louvers so as to provide for a maximum diffusion of the light sidewise from the fixture. I have found in use that my improved fixture is very effective for giving a strong light downwardly and for giving a large amount of light by diffusion uponthe side walls of the room.

While I prefer to employ the form and arrangement of parts as shown in my drawings and as above described, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the form and arrangement as shown except so far as the claims may be so limited, it being understood that changes might well be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departure from my invention.

I claim:

1. In a lighting fixture, the combination of light projecting means, ring-like supporting means positioned horizontally below said light projecting means, a plurality of radially disposed,

arms connected at their outer ends to said supporting means, a plurality of louvers of translucent material arranged vertically and in spaced concentric relation to each other on said arms so as to permit the passage of rays from the light projecting means directly downwardly between the louvers, and quickly detachable spring means on the arms for individually holding the louvers lightly on the arms.

2. In a lighting fixture, the combination of light projecting means, ring-like supporting means positioned horizontally below said light projecting means, a plurality of arms connected to said supporting means, said arms extending radially inwardly and downwardly, a plurality of tubular louvers of translucent material of different'sizes on said arms with each louver arranged inside of the next larger louver and with their walls in spaced relation so as to permit the passage of rays from the light projecting means directly downwardly between the louvers, and quickly detachable hook means on the arms including springs for individually holding the louvers on the arms.

3. In a ceiling lighting fixture, the combination of light projecting means adapted to be mounted in recessed relation to a ceiling, ring-like supporting means below the light projecting means and adapted to be mounted on the ceiling, a plurality of radially disposed arms connected at their outer ends to said supporting means, a plurality of louvers of translucent material arranged vertically and in spaced concentric relation to each other on said arms so as to permit the passage of rays from the light projecting means directly downwardly between the louvers, and quickly operable spring means on the arms for individually holding the louvers lightly on the arms.

4. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a ring comprising means for mounting it in position substantially flush with the face of a ceiling, a dished reflector of a size to pass through said ring and having an opening therethrough at one side, means adapted by connection with said ring to support said reflector above the ring, socket means alongside of said reflector opposite said opening for supporting a light bulb in substantially horizontal position within the reflector, frame means, means for securing said frame means to said ring below said reflector and bulb, and a plurality of tubular louvers of translucent material and of different sizes arranged on said frame means below said reflector and bulb with each louver arranged inside of the next larger louver and with their walls in spaced relation so as to permit the passage of a ray directly downwardly from the bulb and reflector between the louvers, and means for holding said louvers in said relation on said frame means.

5. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a ring comprising means for mounting it in position substantially flush with the face of a ceiling, a second ring of a size to pass through said first named ring, a dished reflector fitted in said second ring so as to pass therewith through said first named ring, said reflector having an opening therethrough at one side, means adapted by connection with said first named ring to support said reflector above the ring, socket means carried by said second ring alongside of said reflector opposite said opening for supporting a light bulb in substantially horizontal position within the reflector, frame means, means for securing said frame means to said first named ring below said reflector and bulb, a plurality of tubular louvers of translucent material and of different sizes arranged on said frame means below said reflector and bulb with each louver arranged inside of the next larger louver and with their walls in spaced relation so as to permit the passage of a ray directly downwardly from the bulb and reflector between the louvers, and means for holding said louvers in said relation on said frame means.

6. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a ring comprising means for mounting it in position substantially flush with the face of a ceiling, a reflector and bulb of a size to enable them to pass upwardly through said ring, a second ring comprising means for connecting it firmly with said first named ring for supporting said reflector and bulb, frame means, means for securing said frame means rigidly in position below said second ring, a plurality of tubular louvers of translucent material and of different sizes arranged on said frame means below said reflector and bulb with each louver arranged inside of the next larger louver and with their walls in spaced relation so as to permit the passage of a ray directly downwardly from the bulb and reflector between the louvers, and means for holding said louvers in said relation on said frame means.

'7. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a ring, a plurality of arms connected together at their inner end portions and connected at their outer ends with said ring, a plurality of cylindrical louvers of translucent material and of different sizes mounted on said arms in concentric position with respect to each other, and yielding link members connected with said arms and hooked about the upper edges of said louvers for holding the louvers lightly in operative position.

8. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a horizontally positioned ring, a plurality of arms connected at their outer ends with said ring and extending inwardly and downwardly therefrom, means for connecting said arms together at their inner end portions, a plurality of cylindrical louvers of translucent material of different sizes mounted on said arms, lugs on said arms between each two successive louvers thereon for holding the louvers in concentric position with respect to each other, and means for holding said louvers in said relation on said arms.

9. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a ring, a plurality of arms connected at their outer ends with said ring and extending inwardly and downwardly therefrom, means for connecting said arms together at their inner end portions, a plurality of cylindrical louvers of translucent material of different sizes mounted on said arms, lugs on said arms between each two successive louvers thereon for holding the louvers in concentric position with respect to each other, and yielding link members connected with said lugs and hooked about the upper edges of the louvers for holding the louvers lightly in operative position.

10. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a substantially flat ring of sheet metal, a plurality of arms in the form of castings extending downwardly and inwardly from the bottom face of the ring in equally spaced relation about the ring, means for connecting the outer ends of said arms rigidly with said ring, other means for connecting the inner ends of said arms together, said obliquely disposed arms being provided at intervals therealong with substantially horizontal bearings, a plurality of cylindrical louvers of translucent material of difierent sizes mounted on said bearings in concentric position with respect to each other, and resilient means for connecting said louvers yieldingly with said arms.

JAMES C. HERRON. 

